Bush aces annual physical

WACO, Texas - President Bush's doctors pronounced him in excellent health after his annual physical examination Saturday and said a calf strain that had slowed his running regimen has healed.

The summary of the physical declared Bush "in excellent health and fit for duty."

"All data suggests that he will remain so for the duration of his presidency," said the doctors' report released just as Bush arrived in Texas for a monthlong stay at his Crawford ranch.

The president has resumed his running routine after recovering from a muscle tear in his right calf in April that forced him to give up his seven-minute-mile runs for several weeks.

The doctors called the calf injury "resolved," but urged him to continue a stretching and cross-training program. Bush spokesman Scott McClellan said Bush is "doing a lot of stretching."

McClellan said Bush is "listening to his body," which is important for someone his age.

"The president feels great," McClellan said.

An avid fitness buff, the 57-year-old Bush ran between two and three miles on a treadmill as part of his physical Saturday.

Bush runs three days a week and supplements that with a "water jog" once a week in the White House pool. He also uses an elliptical trainer for 25 minutes, three times weekly, and exercises his upper body by lifting free weights twice a week.

Bush has complained recently about aching knees that he attributes to age, aides said. He is taking chondroitin glucosamine, a joint relaxer, according to the doctors' report. Bush also takes vitamins and a daily aspirin.

Presiding over the medical exam were White House physician Dr. Richard Tubb and Dr. Kenneth Cooper, president of the Cooper Aerobics Center. They also oversaw Bush's two previous two physicals.

The summary of the physical reported Bush "remains in the superior fitness category for men his age," and shows no evidence of coronary artery disease.

He has a mild high frequency hearing loss that is unchanged from previous examinations, and an optic condition that has the effect of farsightedness.

Bush smokes an occasional cigar and does not drink alcohol. He has caffeine in diet sodas and coffee.

The president had several small skin growths treated as a preventive measure, the doctors said after examining Bush for about 31/2 hours at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. Those included vascular lesions, also known as nasal telangiectasias. The condition is common in people with sun damage and appear on the surface of the skin. Bush had them around his nose.

Bush also had four small lesions removed from his cheeks and arm with liquid nitrogen. The potentially cancer-causing skin lesions, a common condition known as actinic keratoses, are caused by exposure to the sun.

During his stop at the hospital, Bush visited with six troops who had fought in Iraq.

Bush is using his ranch as a base of operations for the month of August. He planned a series of day trips to attend political fundraisers and other events.

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